Category: Press Releases and Statements
USA*Engage and NFTC Applaud “New Day for U.S. Cuba Relations”
Groups Highlight Provisions of Interest to U.S. Businesses
Washington, DC – USA*Engage and National Foreign Trade Council today welcomed the final rules published by the Commerce and Treasury Departments implementing a number of the changes that President Obama announced on December 17 with respect to U.S. Cuba policy.
“These regulations solidify a fundamental change in U.S. Cuba policy,” noted USA*Engage Vice President Richard Sawaya. “It is to be hoped that Congress will support the Administration’s initiative, which augurs well for the future of U.S. relations with Cuba and throughout the region.”
“These rules signal a new day for U.S. Cuba relations. They will permit U.S. businesses to begin getting to know Cuba and also enable businesses and private citizens to engage directly with the Cuban people,” said NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin. “We look forward to working with the Obama Administration, Congress, the U.S. business community and the Cuban people to begin to reestablish the commercial relationship over the months and years to come.”
NFTC and USA*Engage highlighted several provisions of the regulations announced by Treasury and Commerce, which are particularly relevant to U.S. businesses:
Treasury
1. Travel to Cuba for authorized purposes without the need for case-by-case specific licensing – Arguably the change with the most meaningful near-term impact.
Combined with the regulation to permit the use of credit and debit cards in Cuba, this will facilitate the entry of additional thousands of Americans into Cuba for “purposeful” travel and permit businesses and entrepreneurs to begin exploring Cuba.
2. Credit and debit cards, per diem, and importation of certain goods and services.
The decision by OFAC also to amend section 515.560 to eliminate the per diem limitation on authorized travelers’ spending in Cuba, and to permit authorized travelers to import no more than $400 worth of goods from Cuba (including up to $100 in alcohol or tobacco products) is significant from a licensing perspective, as it demonstrates the ability of the President to authorize imports from Cuba. Permitting credit card use will also facilitate day-to-day transactions for U.S. travelers, including businesses, to Cuba.
3. Micro-financing, business, and commercial import activities.
These amendments permit microfinancing and will enable U.S. entities to support entrepreneurs and businesses in Cuba. OFAC is adding new section 515.582 to authorize commercial imports of certain specified goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs based on a list to be determined by the State Department. That is a potentially meaningful license and could help Cubans engage directly in the American marketplace.
4. Telecommunications.
OFAC will generally authorize transactions that establish mechanisms to provide commercial telecommunications services linking third countries and Cuba and in Cuba. OFAC is amending section 515.578 to authorize persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide additional services incident to Internet-based communications and related to certain exportations and reexportations of communications items.
5. Certain transactions with Cuban nationals located outside of Cuba.
OFAC is adding new section 515.585 to authorize U.S.-owned or -controlled entities in third countries to provide, with some limitations, goods and services to Cuban nationals in third countries. OFAC is amending section 515.505 to unblock accounts of Cuban nationals who have permanently relocated outside of Cuba, among other provisions. This has been a major pain point for banks, and is welcome news.
6. Insurance.
OFAC is adding new section 515.580 to authorize insurance companies to offer global insurance policies that cover third-country nationals traveling to Cuba.
7. Shipping.
OFAC is amending section 515.550 to authorize foreign vessels to enter the United States after engaging in certain trade with Cuba.
Commerce
Commerce is authorizing the export of commercially sold or donated:
• Building materials, equipment, and tools for use by the private sector
• Tools and equipment for private sector agricultural activity; and Tools, equipment, supplies and instruments for use by private sector entrepreneurs – this will allow the export of such items to private sector entrepreneurs, such as auto mechanics, barbers and hairstylists and restaurateurs.
• Authorizes the export and reexport to Cuba of certain donated items for use in scientific, archaeological, cultural, ecological, educational, historic preservation or sporting activities.
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About USA*Engage
USA*Engage (www.usaengage.org) is a coalition of small and large businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations working to seek alternatives to the proliferation of unilateral U.S. foreign policy sanctions and to promote the benefits of U.S. engagement abroad. Established in 1997 and organized under the National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org), USA*Engage leads a campaign to inform policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public about the counterproductive nature of unilateral sanctions, the importance of exports and overseas investment for American competitiveness and jobs, and the role of American companies in promoting human rights and democracy worldwide.
About NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 
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NFTC Welcomes DOT Announcement on U.S.-Mexico Cross-Border Trucking
Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s announcement that Mexican motor carriers will soon be able to apply for authority to conduct long-haul, cross-border trucking services in the United States.
NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich stated:
“We are pleased that the cross-border trucking pilot program was a success, as indicated by the Department of Transportation’s exhaustive analysis of the program, and that the United States and Mexico have at long last set the stage for a resolution on this issue.
“Mexico is one of our most important trading partners, so the announcement to normalize the ability of Mexican carriers to apply for authority to operate cross-border trucking to transport goods into the United States is a big win for our bilateral trade relations. Honoring our international obligations under NAFTA ensures open borders for two-way trade that creates U.S. jobs and supports economic growth.”
About the NFTC
NFTC is Celebrating our New Century in 2014! Details at www.nftc.org The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York. Follow us on:
USA*Engage and NFTC Welcome Launch of U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba
Washington, DC – Today, USA*Engage and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) welcomed the launch of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC), a coalition of more than 25 companies and farm trade associations with the goal of normalizing trade relations between the United States and Cuba.
“We welcome the creation of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba and its efforts in support of open trade and investment with Cuba,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “As an organization strongly supportive of an open, rules-based global trading system, we look forward to working with all sectors of the business community supportive of this initiative to normalize our trade relations with Cuba.”
“President Obama’s announcement in December on easing U.S. restrictions on Cuba signaled an important opening for the United States to reconsider its outdated Cuba policy and recognize the need to restore trade relations with Cuba,” said USA*Engage Vice President Richard Sawaya. “Seizing this opening, we welcome the opportunity to work with USACC and other members of the business community in continuing to provide evidence of the many benefits of a normalized trade relationship with Cuba for all sectors of our economy – from manufacturing to agriculture to services.”
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About USA*Engage
USA*Engage (www.usaengage.org) is a coalition of small and large businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations working to seek alternatives to the proliferation of unilateral U.S. foreign policy sanctions and to promote the benefits of U.S. engagement abroad. Established in 1997 and organized under the National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org), USA*Engage leads a campaign to inform policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public about the counterproductive nature of unilateral sanctions, the importance of exports and overseas investment for American competitiveness and jobs, and the role of American companies in promoting human rights and democracy worldwide.
About NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
NFTC Statement on President Obama’s Announcement on U.S. Cuba Policy
Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) issued the following statement on President Obama’s announcement on U.S. Cuba policy.
NFTC President Bill Reinsch stated:
“The release of American prisoner Alan Gross and President Obama’s decision to seek the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba is most welcome news. The decision is truly strategic. Decades of embargo have not advanced democracy or liberty for the Cuban people.
“The changes in the embargo made by the President within his executive authority will promote the free flow of information between individual Cubans and the rest of the world. Restoring normal diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba will foster U.S. interests culturally, commercially and regionally. It is past time to bring down the walls.
“While these changes are essential to promoting democracy in Cuba, they will not promote an immediate bonanza for American exporters. There is much work to be done in rebuilding what has historically been an important market for our manufacturers, farmers and service providers.
“The NFTC salutes the Administration for advancing these measures. We encourage the 114th Congress to support the President’s actions.”
NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin added:
“Congress now has a decision to make. It can either show that politics stops at the water’s edge, or insist that the walls of the Cold War still exist.”
About the NFTC
NFTC is Celebrating our New Century in 2014! Details at www.nftc.org The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York. Follow us on:
NFTC Applauds Funding for TAA, Calls for Long-Term Reauthorization
Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today applauded the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for passing a spending bill, which included additional funding for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program in the coming year. TAA was set to expire on December 31, 2014.
“We applaud congressional action to continue funding TAA, a program critical to U.S. competitiveness and economic growth,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “We are pleased that members of Congress took legislative action to ensure that U.S. workers impacted by trade will continue to receive the benefits and training they need to get back on their feet and back to work. However, short-term funding is not enough; long-term reauthorization of this program is essential in a world driven by global supply chains and with rising domestic inequality.”
“Inclusion of provisions to fund TAA in the spending bill signals that it is a critical part of a comprehensive and competitive national trade policy of opening overseas markets, updating the rules of the global trading system and vigorously enforcing the actions of our trading partners to assure they adhere to those rules,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich. “TAA is important to those U.S. firms and workers who are affected by the shifts in the U.S. economy by the elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers around the world. It provides assistance so that American workers can most quickly participate in the growth and innovation of the larger U.S. economy, made possible by free trade and investment.”
“Congress and the Administration should now turn to a bipartisan effort to provide the president modernized Trade Promotion Authority to facilitate the conclusion of future and current U.S. trade agreements under negotiation, including a high-standard, comprehensive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement,” concluded Reinsch.
About the NFTC
NFTC is Celebrating our New Century in 2014! Details at www.nftc.org The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York. Follow us on:
